And to the surprise of no one, he doesn’t want to sit out for too long.

“I was just at the office rallying for Oct. 7 (UFC 216),” Cerrone told MMAjunkie at The Ultimate Fighter Gym in Las Vegas, where he watched Dana White’s Contender Series 4 on Tuesday. “So we’ll see. I didn’t get knocked out this time, so I was like, ‘I’m OK.’

“I got my eye cleared up. I had a six-month (medical) suspension, so that’s another reason why I’m here. I went and took my eye – I got it cleared, and I’m good to go – 20/5 vision. You’d think I could see the punches coming.”

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The result, obviously, wasn’t exactly what the welterweight was gunning for. But much like most of those who watched it, “Cowboy” said he thoroughly enjoyed the process.

“I wish we had two more rounds, man,” Cerrone said. “God, I had a good time. I really did. I knew that fight was going to be that exact thing: meeting in the middle and (expletive) just fighting. The judges – whatever. I don’t have any control over that. I can’t say ‘(Expletive) them.’

“I guess I should have fought harder, right? They always say, ‘Don’t leave it to the judges.’ So that’s that. Like I said, I wish I had two more rounds. But I legitimately have a sickness, and that was fun to me. Like fun, fun.”

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With 29-28 scorecards across the board, Lawler’s win wasn’t exactly a landslide. In fact, though they were a minority, a few media members scored it for Cerrone, according to MMADecisions.com. So does “Cowboy” himself believe he did enough to win?

“Yeah, I mean – it’s hard when you’re in there,” Cerrone said. “Of course, you think you’re (expletive) winning all the time – unless you’re not. But I wish I’d maybe secured another takedown, would have (expletive) done it, or pushed a little – steps forward.

“I felt like he was more aggressive in the third round toward me, (but) I feel like I was landing the shots. I don’t (expletive) know. Who cares? It’s done now. We’re moving on.”

Cerrone – who’s now on a two-fight skid that includes a UFC on FOX 23 TKO loss to Jorge Masvidal – has already made it clear that he’d like this “moving on” to take place in Las Vegas, at UFC 216.

But, suspicious that his employers have a different idea, it seems like he can be swayed.

“I think they’re going to hold me off and put me on Madison Square Garden (UFC 217, set for Nov. 4)” Cerrone said. “I have a silly hunch. But who cares? I like to fight. So bring that (expletive) on.”